For ‘Timepass,’ a Guide to Indian English

In India, students who are falling behind in their grades try to improve their performance by learning their subject by rote or by ‘mugging.’

As many countries where English is an adopted language, India has its share of English words and phrases that may seem odd to visitors.

These “Indianisms” have been the source of many articles and books over the years. This CNN blog covered some gems such as “doing the needful” (an old-fashioned way of saying one is doing what needs to be done) and “prepone” (the opposite of postpone in Indian-English.) It also noted, for instance, that Indians typically “pass out” from a college rather than graduate, and they go “out of station” rather than simply leaving town.

We at India Real Time are adding to the list. Here are a few of our favorites:

1. Revertal: This is a new twist to the more commonly used Indian-English word “revert,” which basically means getting back to someone. While we laud both for their economy – after all they cut four words into one – “revert” and “revertal” don’t have many fans outside India.

2. Telecon: A simple phone call becomes a sophisticated activity in India by being called a “telecon.”

3. Good name: Whether yours is or isn’t, Indians will typically ask for your “good name,” not simply your name. This is the literal English translation of the particularly polite Hindi way of asking someone their name.

4. Gentle reminder: Public-relations folks often send us “gentle reminders” to check if we are still going to show up for a meeting or conference we’d promised to attend. Someone explain to us what “tough” reminders are, so we can better distinguish them from the gentle ones.

5. Timepass: This phrase means doing nothing of much importance. So when you want to say “I’m chilling,” in India you can say “I’m doing timepass.”

Narinder Nanu/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

Many Indian matrimonial ads seek a bride who is ‘homely,’ a reference to someone who stays at home, can cook and basically do all kinds of household work.

6. Homely: Many Indian matrimonial ads seek a bride who is “homely.” In India, that’s a reference to someone who stays at home, can cook and basically do all kinds of household work. In the West, of course, this word is often used to describe an unattractive person.

7. Thrice: This commonly used word in India appears in the dictionary. But it’s an old-fashioned one, and the norm globally is to say three times.

8. Freak out: In India, this phrase is often used to convey that someone is having a good time or is partying like mad. Some people do use it to convey the more commonly-known meaning of being shocked. So, next time you hear that the young ladies were freaking out in India, be sure to check whether it was out of fun or fear.

9. Mugging: In India, students who are falling behind in their grades try to improve their performance by learning their subject by rote or by “mugging.” When Indians are actually mugged, they would say they were robbed.

10. Felicitate: Why congratulate someone or give them an award for their achievement, when you can “felicitate” them? Sounds a lot more important!

Readers, what are your favorite Indianisms? Please share them in the Comments section.